Sportsflation: The Justice Department Is Finally Coming for the NFL.
The U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into whether the NFL is engaging in anticompetitive tactics that drive up the cost for consumers of watching games. The Wall Street Journal broke the story today, and we want to be clear about what this moment means: Sports Fans Coalition has been calling for exactly this kind of scrutiny for more than 15 years. We're thrilled — and not the least bit surprised.
Sportsflation Starts With the Leagues: SFC and Public Knowledge Tell the FCC to Follow the Money
Last week, Sports Fans Coalition and Public Knowledge filed joint comments in the FCC's inquiry into sports broadcasting practices. We told the Commission what fans already know: the reason you're paying more to watch less isn't because of "market evolution" or "technological disruption." It's because professional sports leagues are running a cartel, and the government has let them get away with it for decades.
Statement on DOJ Settlement with Live Nation Entertainment
"American sports fans' worst-case scenario came true: the DOJ caved to political pressure and settled the Live Nation/Ticketmaster lawsuit. Anything less than a structural breakup of the two companies would have been a loss, but this settlement is especially weak. The DOJ had an opportunity to inject much-needed competition into the space, but they let the pitch go by. We hope that the bipartisan group of state AGs will step up to the plate and pick up where the DOJ left off.”
Sports Fans Coalition Statement on the Firing of DOJ Antitrust Chief Gail Slater
Sports Fans Coalition views the abrupt ousting of Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater as deeply troubling especially in light of recent reports that the DOJ is settling with Live Nation/Ticketmaster after the company hired high-powered, politically connected lobbyists, rather than choose to defend themselves in the court of law, as Live Nation’s Executive Vice President, Dan Wall, insinuated they would do when asked under oath by Senator Klobuchar about whether the DOJ’s lawsuit should be resolved based on the law and not by political pressure.
The Bot Crime Family: Inside Ticketmaster’s Racket
For years, Ticketmaster has played the innocent victim, telling fans and lawmakers that scalpers and bots were the villains behind sky-high ticket prices. Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary have claimed they’re the victims merely helpless bystanders in a technological arms race. But the FTC’s new lawsuit rips the mask off. This isn’t a victim story. This is a mob story.
The Cardfather: How Fanatics Consolidated Power and Killed a Hobby
For decades, competition defined the card market. Companies like Topps and Panini vied for licenses, which kept prices stable and quality high. But that era ended when Fanatics executed what the complaint describes as a coordinated licensing scheme that monopolized every major sport. Now the industry looks like a bad mafia movie, except Fanatics CEO, Michael Rubin, lacks the charisma of Al Pacino or James Gandolfini.
SFC Files with DOJ/FTC About Ticketing Policy
We have long led the charge for fans’ rights, and we applauded President Trump’s Executive Order 14254 for taking direct aim at the monopolistic practices plaguing the ticketing industry. In response, we endorsed the TICKET Act as a powerful step forward. For years, SFC has pushed for reform through comments to the FTC and DOJ, active participation in federal workshops and roundtables, and strong support for antitrust action against Live Nation-Ticketmaster. But there’s still more to do.
To truly protect fans, we need bold action on market abuses, transferability rights, deceptive pricing, exclusive contracts, and the rampant lack of enforcement of existing laws. The momentum is building. It’s time to finish the job and, in the words of Kid Rock, “Make America Fun Again.”
Throwing the Flag on the Cox/Charter Merger
Charter and Cox want to close a multibillion dollar mega-merger. Let’s be clear: this deal could sideline millions of fans. Both Cox and Charter have a well-documented track record of blackouts and high-stakes carriage disputes that have shut fans out of watching their favorite teams. Remember missing that key rivalry game because of a contract fight? They’re one of the culprits. Now they want to grow bigger, gain more leverage, and jack up the pressure on fans who’ve ditched cable in favor of streamingThat’s not a merger. That’s a recipe for more blackouts, more frustration, and less access for fans.